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22 March 2023 / 22 March 2023 by Stuart Jeffery
Green campaigner for Allington, Rachel Rodwell, has started a petition to KCC to get the proposed bus service from Hermitage Park moving after learning that they have been sitting on these funds for this for seven years. Rachel Rodwell, Green Party campaigner for Allington: “It is simply unbelievable that KCC can drag their heels for […]
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5 March 2023 / 5 March 2023 by Stuart Jeffery
Green campaigner Rachel Rodwell was shocked to hear that the council do not intend to make public the number of people who are refused a vote due to a lack of ID in the local elections. The refusal came to light at the Council meeting on 22nd February where she asked what measures were to […]
25 February 2023 / 25 February 2023 by Stuart Jeffery
Green Campaigner Stephen Thompson has hit out at Maidstone Borough Council’s lack of engagement with local bus operators that came to light following his questions at the Council meeting on 22nd February. Stephen Thompson (Green Party campaigner for Detling and Thurnham): “Good quality, local and cheap bus services are the backbone of public transport so it […]
At Wednesday’s full Council meeting Cllr Jeffery (Green) called for increased fines and enforcement for fly tippers and for landlords who let out substandard homes. Cllr Jeffery also proposed a working group on sustainable transport across the Borough. All three suggestions were rejected by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats however they were fully supported by […]
10 February 2023 / 10 February 2023 by Stuart Jeffery
With announcement of further cuts to local Arriva bus services in Maidstone, Greens have reiterated their calls for government at local and national level to intervene. Last month local Greens wrote to Grant Shapps demanding to know when money promised for bus services in Kent would be provided, so far there has been no response. […]
23 January 2023 / 23 January 2023 by Stuart Jeffery
Greens across Maidstone have reacted angrily against the potential closures of children centres with Marden being particularly badly affected. The local Green councillor, Mick Summersgill, has started a petition and is calling on KCC to scrap the closure plans. Cllr Mick Summersgill, Green Campaigner for Marden and Yalding Ward: “Marden cannot afford to lose this […]
17 January 2023 / 17 January 2023 by Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Greens have welcomed many of the comments from the Planning Inspector following his inspection of the Local Plan but have warned that housing targets are politically and economically driven rather than being based on need and the entire plan is ecologically unsustainable. Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green Party): “While I was pleased to see the […]
10 January 2023 / 10 January 2023 by Stuart Jeffery
Following a question by Green councillor Stuart Jeffery, to Maidstone’s Joint Transportation Board last week, it was confirmed that funding to support bus services across Maidstone and Kent has not been received by Kent County Council, nine months after funding was agreed with the Department for Transport. Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green on Maidstone Borough Council): […]
16 December 2022 / 16 December 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Green campaigners, local residents and a business manager have taken action following that discovery that Allington Ward has just one salt bin for the entire area. Residents expressed concerns after the weekend’s snow and ice turned roads and pavements into skating rinks with buses, bin lorries and local residents alike, trying to navigate treacherous roads and […]
8 December 2022 / 8 December 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Green Councillor, Stuart Jeffery, proposed a ground breaking motion[1] that would have seen the rights of nature enshrined in the council’s constitution; however Conservatives and Lib Dems voted clearly against these rights at last night’s council meeting[2] while Labour abstained. Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green Party), “This appalling stance taken by Conservatives and Lib Dems clearly […]
3 December 2022 / 3 December 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Green Councillor, Stuart Jeffery, has proposed a ground breaking motion which could see the rights of nature enshrined in the council’s constitution. The rights of nature could be mentioned in the constitution alongside mentions of human rights with Maidstone Borough Council being the first in Britain to do this. Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green), “If this […]
20 October 2022 / 20 October 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Local Greens have worked with residents of Shaftesbury Drive and Queens Road to halt the full closure of the much needed 78 service. After a 300 strong petition, lobbying of KCC and discussions with Nu Venture, Nu Venture have agreed to reduce the service rather than end it altogether. Cllr Stuart Jeffery, Bridge Ward: “It’s […]
12 October 2022 / 12 October 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Greens are furious that the Council’s environment committee1 has recommended reducing the Air Quality Management Area2 in the town and say it will lead to more deaths. The Greens point to the failure of local actions to tackle pollution, continuing high numbers of deaths and that the Borough exceeds World Health Organisation limits across 90% of […]
26 September 2022 / 26 September 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone’s Green councillor, Stuart Jeffery, has reacted angrily to the announcement that businesses won’t have to comply with local planning rules under the Conservatives announcement of “Investment Zones”, of which Kent is one. He has called the announcement ecocide. Cllr Jeffery will be asking what the Conservatives on Maidstone Borough Council think of the new […]
25 September 2022 / 25 September 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
The new Pollution Patrol initiative from Kent Air is nice to see, but it gives the false impression that councils are taking decisive action to protect our health, say local Greens in Maidstone. MBC Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green Party), “We need to be teaching children about the appalling impact that air pollution has on people’s health and the Pollution Patrol looks […]
19 August 2022 / 19 August 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
The Green and Independent Group at KCC had cause to celebrate on Thursday afternoon, as another hurdle was cleared in their attempt to stop the administration at KCC from cutting subsidies to vital bus services across the county. Today’s Scrutiny Committee call in had been requested by Green Party councillor Rich Lehmann and seconded by […]
21 July 2022 / 21 July 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
A proposal from Maidstone’s Green Councillor, Stuart Jeffery, to tackle water pollution from sewage spills into the River Medway received full support at a Council meeting last night. The proposal asked Maidstone Borough Council to focus its efforts with Southern Water to ensure that the sewage system is able to cope with demand. Suggestions from other […]
14 July 2022 / 14 July 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Local Greens in Maidstone have welcomed a call by the Environment Agency for Chief Executives and Board members of the most seriously polluting water companies to be jailed but the Greens point out that the only way problems can be properly addressed is by reverting water companies to government ownership. In addition, Green councillor Stuart […]
7 July 2022 / 7 July 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
stuartjefferyUncategorizedJuly 7, 2022 Open letter to Helen Grant MP – sent 08:00 7th July 2022 Dear Helen There is a national crisis of confidence in government, a crisis that is destroying trust between the electorate and those elected, a crisis that has made the UK an international laughing stock, a crisis that has been manufactured […]
23 June 2022 / 23 June 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Greens have showed their solidarity with local rail workers at the picket line at Maidstone East. Meeting the team on the picket line, Cllr Stuart Jeffery said, “This is a fight that must be won. The RMT are not asking for anything outrageous, just a reasonable pay rise and for their jobs, conditions and […]
6 May 2022 / 6 May 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Greens have broken through onto Maidstone Borough Council with the election of Stuart Jeffery in Bridge Ward with just over 50% of the vote. Green Cllr Stuart Jeffery said: “It is a historic day. Maidstone Borough Council has its first ever Green councillor. I am honoured and thrilled to have been elected by the […]
19 April 2022 / 19 April 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
At the closure of Kent County Council’s consultation on which essential bus services should be axed, Maidstone Greens have sent in a 700 strong petition calling for a fundamental rethink. Stuart Jeffery of Maidstone Greens: “Just a few weeks ago the UN stated that it was ‘now or never’ to act on climate change yet […]
9 April 2022 / 9 April 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Greens are fielding the second largest number of candidates in this years local elections in Maidstone. Maidstone Green Party, who have been campaigning tirelessly on issues that matter to local people such as stopping the rampant house building on farm and woodland, making our roads safer and tackling pollution, have gained significant support in […]
28 February 2022 / 28 February 2022 by Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Green Party are calling on the government to extend the Bus Recovery Grant beyond the end of March and to allow Kent to move to a London style approach to bus service provision to stop the ‘meltdown’ in services[i]. The grant has provided support for bus operators impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in England. […]
